District Objectives: District library guidelines are based on the American Library Association Library Bill of Rights. School District media personnel are concerned with generating understanding of American freedoms through the development of informed and responsible citizens. To this end the American Association of School Librarians asserts that the responsibility of the school library media center is:
1. To provide a comprehensive collection of instructional materials selected in compliance with basic written selection principles, and to provide maximum accessibility to these materials. 2. To provide materials that will support the curriculum, taking into consideration the individual's needs, and the varied interests, abilities, socio-economic backgrounds, and maturity levels of the students served. 3. To provide materials for teachers and students that will encourage growth in knowledge, and that will develop literary, cultural and aesthetic appreciation, and ethical standards. 4. To provide materials which reflect the ideals and beliefs of religious, social, political, historical, and ethnic groups and their contribution to American and world heritage and culture, thereby enabling students to develop an intellectual integrity in forming judgments. 5. To provide a written statement, approved by the local Board of Education, of the procedures for meeting the challenge of censorship of materials in school library media centers. 6. To provide qualified professional personnel to serve teachers and students. (Crest Ridge) Library Objectives: 1. To make available print and non-print materials that will implement and enrich the curriculum in all areas 2. To develop a life-long appreciation for reading, listening, and viewing 3. To provide opportunities for personal interests and recreational reading of students 4. To contribute to the development of the social, intellectual, and spiritual values of the students 5. To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that patrons may develop the practice of critical analysis 6. To place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection of educational materials (Iola-Scandinavia) Responsible Personnel: Knowledge of student interests and capabilities will enable the librarian to select educational and enjoyable materials acceptable to the student for recreational reading. Faculty and students are encouraged to suggest materials to be considered for purchase. The final decision is left to the librarian (based on the criteria listed below) and with the principal approving the requisition. Materials will be examined upon delivery and will be kept if they fill the need for which they were intended. (Crest Ridge) The selections shall also be based on long-range plans, existing collections of materials, and the availability of other resources. (Blue Valley) Criteria for Selection: 1. Ties to the Curriculum
Contribution that the resource makes to the curriculum and to the interests of the students, based on state and district standards.
Contribution the resource makes to the breadth and depth of representative viewpoints on controversial issues.
Contribution of representative viewpoints, including, but not limited to, multicultural, disability awareness, and gender-fair concepts.
Appropriateness of the resource for the age of the students with whom the resource is intended to be used considering the following:
Emotional development
Ability level
Learning style
Social development
Absence of vulgar language, sexual explicitness, or violent imagery that is gratuitously employed
Appropriateness of the resource for the circumstances of use.
2. Quality of Resources
Favorable reviews found in reputable professionally prepared sources.
Favorable recommendations based on preview and/or examination of materials by District certified staff.
Reputation and significance of the author, producer, and/or publisher.
Potential User appeal.
Artistic quality and/or literary style.
Quality and variety in format, content, and production.
Overall strengths.
Timeliness or permanence
Integrity and accuracy of the content with respect to materials that are not intended to be presented as works of fiction.
Value commensurate with cost and/or need.
Professional reviews and curriculum rationales will be available in the school library media center. (Blue Valley) Selection Tools: Selection tools may include but are not limited to:
Professional reviews such as The School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Horn Book, Booklist, etc.
National and state award titles such as Newbery Award, Caldecott Award, Coretta Scott King Award, Theodore Seuss Giesel Award, Mark Twain Award, Show-Me Award, etc.
Online collection development software such as Follett’s Titlewave
Recommendations from students, parents, administration and faculty. (Chicago)
Donations The professional library staff reviews educational materials given to the District libraries. The professional library staff accepts or rejects materials on the basis of the selection criteria enumerated above. (Iola-Scandinavia) Weeding: Removing materials from the library that are no longer useful is important in maintaining a collection which is timely, reliable, and inviting. The librarian will examine materials while doing the end of year inventory and during routine day-to-day circulation of materials. Anything meeting the criteria for weeding will be withdrawn from library records and discarded. If it is an item for which there is still a need, a replacement will be purchased; if a purchase is not possible at that time, it shall be added to the Teacher/Student Request List for future consideration.
Criteria for Materials to be Weeded 1. Items which are soiled, damaged, or torn beyond repair. 2. Items which are so outdated that they are useless. 3. Items found to contain unreliable information or information which is no longer true. (Crest Ridge) Reconsideration Process: The Board acknowledges the interests of parents, students, teachers, librarians, administrators and other members of the school community in CPS library resources. When a challenge is raised about materials that are maintained in a library or a request is made to include additional materials (collectively, “complaint”), the librarian needs to consider the individual’s interest in expressing a complaint, the requirements set out in this policy, and the principles of Intellectual Freedom as expressed in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and its interpretation for school libraries. If the complaint cannot be resolved through an informal telephone conference or meeting between the complainant and the librarian or principal, as appropriate, the following procedure must be followed:
Listen calmly and objectively to the complaint. Explain briefly the selection criteria and procedures established by Chicago Public Schools in this collection development policy.
Provide the complainant a copy of this policy and the complaint form, which can be found at http://www.oism.cps.k12.il.us/dept_libraries.shtml. Explain that the signed and completed form must be submitted before further action is taken. If the librarian or principal does not receive a completed and signed form within two weeks, he or she may consider the matter to be resolved.
Upon receipt of a signed and completed complaint, the librarian shall notify the school’s Area library coordinator in the Department of Libraries and Information Services. Within ten (10) school days of receipt of the complaint, the Area library coordinator will form a review committee with the librarian and principal and will meet or confer about it.
The review committee will determine whether the material that is challenged or requested meets the criteria for selection set forth in this collection development policy.
The written decision of the committee will be sent to the complainant within 30 days of receipt of the complaint.
The complainant may challenge the committee’s decision by making a written appeal to the Director of the Department of Libraries and Information Services (Director). The Director will provide the Area Instruction Officer (AIO) of the involved school a copy of the Complaint, the committee’s decision, and the written appeal. With input from the AIO, the Director will render a final decision on the appeal.
Complainants may not raise the same or substantially same challenge after the appeal has been decided or matter closed.
Challenged material may remain in circulation until this review and appeal process is completed. (Chicago)
District Objectives:
District library guidelines are based on the American Library Association Library Bill of Rights. School District media personnel are concerned with generating understanding of American freedoms through the development of informed and responsible citizens. To this end the American Association of School Librarians asserts that the responsibility of the school library media center is:
1. To provide a comprehensive collection of instructional materials selected in compliance with basic written selection principles, and to provide maximum accessibility to these materials.
2. To provide materials that will support the curriculum, taking into consideration the individual's needs, and the varied interests, abilities, socio-economic backgrounds, and maturity levels of the students served.
3. To provide materials for teachers and students that will encourage growth in knowledge, and that will develop literary, cultural and aesthetic appreciation, and ethical standards.
4. To provide materials which reflect the ideals and beliefs of religious, social, political, historical, and ethnic groups and their contribution to American and world heritage and culture, thereby enabling students to develop an intellectual integrity in forming judgments.
5. To provide a written statement, approved by the local Board of Education, of the procedures for meeting the challenge of censorship of materials in school library media centers.
6. To provide qualified professional personnel to serve teachers and students. (Crest Ridge)
Library Objectives:
1. To make available print and non-print materials that will implement and enrich the curriculum in all areas
2. To develop a life-long appreciation for reading, listening, and viewing
3. To provide opportunities for personal interests and recreational reading of students
4. To contribute to the development of the social, intellectual, and spiritual values of the students
5. To provide materials on opposing sides of controversial issues so that patrons may develop the practice of critical analysis
6. To place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials of the highest quality in order to assure a comprehensive collection of educational materials (Iola-Scandinavia)
Responsible Personnel:
Knowledge of student interests and capabilities will enable the librarian to select educational and enjoyable materials acceptable to the student for recreational reading. Faculty and students are encouraged to suggest materials to be considered for purchase. The final decision is left to the librarian (based on the criteria listed below) and with the principal approving the requisition. Materials will be examined upon delivery and will be kept if they fill the need for which they were intended. (Crest Ridge) The selections shall also be based on long-range plans, existing collections of materials, and the availability of other resources. (Blue Valley)
Criteria for Selection:
1. Ties to the Curriculum
2. Quality of Resources
Professional reviews and curriculum rationales will be available in the school library media center. (Blue Valley)
Selection Tools:
Selection tools may include but are not limited to:
Donations
The professional library staff reviews educational materials given to the District libraries. The professional library staff accepts or rejects materials on the basis of the selection criteria enumerated above. (Iola-Scandinavia)
Weeding:
Removing materials from the library that are no longer useful is important in maintaining a collection which is timely, reliable, and inviting. The librarian will examine materials while doing the end of year inventory and during routine day-to-day circulation of materials. Anything meeting the criteria for weeding will be withdrawn from library records and discarded. If it is an item for which there is still a need, a replacement will be purchased; if a purchase is not possible at that time, it shall be added to the Teacher/Student Request List for future consideration.
Criteria for Materials to be Weeded
1. Items which are soiled, damaged, or torn beyond repair.
2. Items which are so outdated that they are useless.
3. Items found to contain unreliable information or information which is no longer true. (Crest Ridge)
Reconsideration Process:
The Board acknowledges the interests of parents, students, teachers, librarians, administrators and other members of the school community in CPS library resources. When a challenge is raised about materials that are maintained in a library or a request is made to include additional materials (collectively, “complaint”), the librarian needs to consider the individual’s interest in expressing a complaint, the requirements set out in this policy, and the principles of Intellectual Freedom as expressed in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and its interpretation for school libraries. If the complaint cannot be resolved through an informal telephone conference or meeting between the complainant and the librarian or principal, as appropriate, the following procedure must be followed:
Blue Valley School District, Overland Park, Kansas: “Selection Policy 4600”http://www2.bluevalleyk12.org/policies/documents/4600policy.pdf
Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, Illinois: “Chicago Public Schools Policy Manual: New Collection Development Policy for School Libraries”http://policy.cps.k12.il.us/documents/604.7.pdf
“Crest Ridge School District Board Policy: Regulation 6310” Crest Ridge School District. n.d. Web. 27 Nov 2011. http://crs.k12.mo.us/Board/Policies/6000/R6310.htm
“District Selection Policy” Iola-Scandinavia Middle/High School Libraryhttp://www.iola.k12.wi.us/hs/districtselection.cfm
"Workbook for Selection Policy Writing." American Library Association. American Library Association, n.d. Web. 30 June 2011. <http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=dealing&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11173>.